Retraining, bonuses and skills for top wages when you get out

ARMYTIMES: Feb. 2014

Cyber is the new “it” job.

The cyber training pipeline has doubled in three years, big bonuses are offered to some related specialties and U.S. Cyber Command’s budget doubled to $447 million in 2014, in stark contrast to the looming threat of retiring entire fleets of aircraft and involuntarily separating thousands of airmen.

In the three years since the Air Force’s arm of U.S. Cyber Command — officially called 24th Air Force — became operational, the numbered command has grown to 5,400 airmen, civilians and contractor personnel providing around-the-clock support to protect and defend Defense Department networks. Another 11,000 Air Force reservists and Air National Guard members support the mission.